🧭 Moving to Los Angeles
Just moved to Downey?
Curated by Simir Shah
Who lands here
Families who want a full-service, mostly residential city between Los Angeles and Orange County, with bilingual Spanish-English library programs and Spanish-language library card applications.
The vibe
Suburban and settled, with tree-lined neighborhoods, a revived downtown and city venues like the Downey Theatre and Columbia Memorial Space Center.
Schools
Downey Unified serves most of the city, while some areas fall in Little Lake City School District for K-8. Schools follow your street address, so confirm with the district before you sign a lease.
Getting around
The I-5, I-105 and I-605 all touch Downey, and the Metro C Line stops at Lakewood Boulevard near the 105. The city's Downey LINK buses cost 50 cents, and GoPass students ride Metro free.
Finding your community
The city-run Downey City Library offers bilingual Hora de Cuentos storytimes and Spanish card applications. The Columbia Memorial Space Center runs STEM workshops for kids. See our community guides.
Now go explore Downey
A friendly orientation, not advice. Neighborhoods, schools and prices change and depend on your exact address — always verify school assignments and lease details directly. New to the area? Start with the New to SoCal hub.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Downey a good place for families new to Southern California?
Downey is a long-established southeast LA County city with its own library, a busy parks department and a hands-on space museum built on the former NASA Downey site. Families who want a full-service, mostly residential city between Los Angeles and Orange County, with bilingual Spanish-English library programs and Spanish-language library card applications.
How are the schools in Downey?
Downey Unified serves most of the city, while some areas fall in Little Lake City School District for K-8. Schools follow your street address, so confirm with the district before you sign a lease.
Do I need a car in Downey?
The I-5, I-105 and I-605 all touch Downey, and the Metro C Line stops at Lakewood Boulevard near the 105. The city's Downey LINK buses cost 50 cents, and GoPass students ride Metro free.